All things work....

All things work to the glory of God.

That statement is difficult to believe when you're facing something that has little hope. I was rolling that statement around in my head about two o'clock this morning. I was looking at my dad lying in the hospital bed and began asking questions.

How does laying there bring glory to God? How does it happen? I will tell you exactly how it happens. He lived his life in accordance with his faith in God. In simpler terms, he lived what he believed. Now he is laying there unable to move, unable to speak, and I can't help being brought back to God. My dad wanted to live his life in a way that pleased God. And now the loving God, the one who created him, is watching him with sadness in His eyes and a longing in His heart. He knows what my dad is going through and He knows the outcome and is loving him through it all.

While I am watching my dad, I too have a sadness in my eyes and a longing in my heart and I too am loving him through it all. I remember how he held my hand when I was little, and now I hold his. I remember him putting lotion on me when I was sick, and now I am putting lotion on him. He rubbed my tummy when it hurt, now I rub his head when he frowns and I massage the hand that cannot feel my touch.

The doctor told me this was my way of showing Jesus' love to my dad. Yes, while that is true, it is also the way I can show my love to my dad. He cannot talk to me, but he knows I am there. His face eases when I read a Psalm to him or when I pray over him. He tried to open one eye and looked at me and then he closed it. I haven't seen him open his eye in 24 hours. It was a dear moment for me and one that I will put deep in my heart. I know my dad loves me.

My heart knows that God is glorified by the loving way my mom, my sisters, my brother-in-laws, my children, my neice and nephew, my friends, and my church family have all have come together to help each other through this time. Everyone has been talking about God's love, God's compassion, God's never-failing presence. God is being glorified in our weakness. The book of Lamentations says, "...His compassions fail not, they are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness." Because of His faithfulness, I know that when my dad's time comes, God will be there waiting for him.

In the meantime, I am not without hope. God can do amazing things. If dad is to get better, then praise God for that. If God chooses to take my dad home to Him, then praise God for that. No matter what, I will praise God and give him glory. He gave me my dad, how could I do anything less?